Glossary

GLOSSARY

Chrysotile

Chrysotile or white asbestos is the most commonly encountered form of asbestos, accounting for approximately 95% of the asbestos in place in the United States and a similar proportion in other countries. It is a soft, fibrous silicate mineral in the serpentine group of phyllosilicates; as such, it is distinct from other asbestiform minerals in the amphibole group. Its idealized chemical formula is Mg3 (Si2O5) (OH) 4.Source: Wikipedia

Electrolytic process

With electrochemical methods, reduction is carried out with electric current fed into the electrolyte cells. Electrolytic processes dominated magnesium production from the 1970s to the 1990s. In general, these processes include feed preparation, dehydration of magnesium chloride and electrolysis (Habashi, 1997). The feed preparation stage depends on the type of raw material. Magnesium oxide can be extracted from seawater by adding lime to form magnesium hydroxide. This is then roasted to form caustic magnesium oxide. In the hydro magnesium route, magnesite is dissolved in hydrochloric acid, forming a concentrated magnesium chloride solution.Source: Habashi, 1997 – Alliance Magnesium Business Plan

Electrolysis

In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis is a method of using a direct electric current (DC) to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction. Electrolysis is commercially highly important as a stage in the separation of elements from naturally occurring sources such as ores using an electrolytic cell.Source: Wikipedia

Magnola Process

Magnola developed its process during the 1980s and 1990s and implemented it in the late 1990s. This innovating technology used to recover magnesium from serpentine worked effectively and produced high-quality magnesium for use in many applications. Magnola’s magnesium production was based on a hydrometallurgical process followed by an electrolysis process. The production of 58,000 tons of magnesium required about 270,000 tons of serpentine rock (mine tailings) as raw material. Other inputs included magnesium oxide added to the brine neutralization and purification steps; hydrochloric acid to make up for quantities consumed by the process; caustic soda used for cleaning emissions; and sulphuric acid used to dry hydrogen chloride. The process needed 120 MW of electricity, approximately 113 million cubic metres of natural gas per year and 150 to 180 cubic metres of water per hour, from external sources.Source: Alliance Magnesium Business Plan

Pidgeon Process

It is a silicothermic process that relies on the use of ferrosilicon to reduce magnesium oxide to a molten slag at temperatures of between 1,200°C and 1,600°C. This process was developed in the 1940s in Ontario, Canada, by Prof. Pidgeon and the Timminco Company. It constitutes a central process in magnesium production at a large number of Chinese manufacturers. A reduced gas pressure above the slag produces magnesium vapour that is condensed at a location removed from the main furnace or in the low temperature zone of the converter. The crowns of condensed magnesium are then re-melted, refined and casted.The pidgeon process is the oldest, simplest, least energy-efficient and most labour-intensive production process.Source: Alliance Magnesium Business Plan

Serpentine rock

The term “serpentine” refers to a group of minerals that make up serpentinite rock. Serpentine and serpentinite, however, are often used interchangeably. Serpentinite is a metamorphic rock formed when water and rock are exposed to low temperatures (about 400 to 600 oC) and metamorphic processes (high pressures_ within the earth’s crust. Serpentinite is a type of ultramafic rock, consisting predominantly of magnesium silicate and iron oxide minerals. Most ultramafic rocks, including serpentinite, contain naturally occurring asbestos particles, microscopic need-like particle of asbestos or asbestos-like fibers.Source: University of California

Building the future

As its name implies, Alliance Magnesium is recruiting key players for the development of its technologies and commercial aspects, as well as for its financial needs. Its financial partners will sustain its capital requirements, having recognised its enormous potential of high return on investment.